Clothing Garments with Removable Pockets or Pocket Panels

ABSTRACT

Clothing garments having detachable, interchangeable pocket panels or pockets are disclosed. The pocket panels or pockets can have a variety of different designs and/or color schemes. The pocket panels or pockets may be removably attached to one or more pocket regions of garments such as shirts or pants. Thus, a variety of different clothing designs and color schemes can be obtained from a single garment.

BACKGROUND

In today's fashion-conscious world, it is desirable for a person to have a variety of garments of different designs and colors. People often purchase matching sets of clothes and accessories, and many times clothing garments and accessories are not interchangeable with other garments or accessories because of conflicting designs and/or colors. Therefore, people often have to purchase many different clothing items in order to obtain a wide variety of different looking outfits. Obtaining and maintaining a diverse wardrobe can therefore be very expensive.

In view of the above, it is desirable to provide clothing garments that can be modified to provide different color and design schemes, thereby reducing the need to buy many different sets of clothing and accessories.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various embodiments of clothing garments having interchangeable pocket panels or pockets are disclosed. The pocket panels or pockets can have a variety of different designs and/or color schemes. The pocket panels or pockets may be removably attached to one or more pocket regions of garments such as shirts or pants. According to certain embodiments, the pocket panels or pockets may be attached by hook-and-loop (Velcro®) closures, snap closures, button closures or zipper closures.

Because the pocket panels or pockets can be quickly and easily detached from the pants and replaced with different pocket panels or pockets, various color schemes and designs can be provided to a single garment. Thus, different clothing appearances can be obtained at less expense compared to purchasing multiple sets of garments. Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pair of pants including removable pocket panels according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show front and rear views, respectively, of a collection of interchangeable pocket panels for the pants of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to the pants of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to a pair of pants according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to a pair of pants according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket panel partially attached to a pair of pants according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a pair of pants including removable pockets.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show perspective and rear views, respectively, of a collection of interchangeable pockets for the pants of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cut-away view showing a pocket partially attached to the pants of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate how removable pocket panels or pockets can be attached to the side portions of pants.

FIGS. 10C and 10D illustrate how removable pocket panels or pockets can be attached to the front portions of pants.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show how removable pocket panels or pockets can be attached to a shirt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the inventive concept are described below with reference to the drawings. Reference characters shared between multiple embodiments indicate similar features and components.

FIGS. 1-3 show a pant assembly 10 including a pair of pants 20 and a collection of interchangeable pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36. The pants 20 and pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36 may be constructed of denim, cotton, polyester, nylon, or other materials or combinations of materials, so as to form jeans, khakis, cargo pants, sweat pants or other types of pants, as desired.

Referring to FIG. 2A, pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36 each have a unique color and/or decorative design, as is indicated by the variations in shading shown on the pocket panels. Variations in the overall shape of the pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36 are also possible. It is noted that the assembly 10 is shown to have four types of pocket panels, including two of each pocket panel 30, 32, 34, 36, such that a pair of matched or mixed pocket panels may be attached to the pants. However, any number and combination of pocket panels may be provided, as desired.

Turning now to FIG. 3, pants 20 include rear pocket regions 22 having a first fastening arrangement 50 provided at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket regions 22. As shown in FIG. 2B, each of the pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36 includes a second fastening arrangement 60 corresponding to the first fastening member 50, and disposed at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket panel 30, 32, 34, 36. Thus, the pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36 can each be attached to the rear pocket regions 22 by fastening the fastening arrangements 50 and 60 to each other (FIG. 3), thereby forming pockets 70 having an opening 72 (FIG. 1) that provides a fashionable appearance and are suitable for holding various items. The pocket panels 30, 32, 34, 36 can be easily removed from the rear pocket regions 22 by unfastening the fastening arrangements 50 and 60 from each other. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the fastening arrangements 50 and 60 may include, respectively, hook-type fasteners and corresponding loop-type fasteners (or, vice-versa), which form a hook-and-loop (i.e., Velcro®) fastening system.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of a pant assembly 10 a including a first fastening arrangement 50 a and a second fastening arrangement 60 a. According to this embodiment, the fastening arrangements 50 a and 60 a include female snap members and corresponding male snap members (or, vice-versa), respectively.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a pant assembly 10 b includes a first fastening arrangement 50 b and a second fastening arrangement 60 b. As shown in FIG. 5, the first fastening arrangement 50 b includes buttons, while the second fastening arrangement 60 b includes corresponding button holes.

Yet another embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, wherein a pant assembly 10 c includes first and second fastening arrangements 50 c and 60 c comprising matching zipper elements.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a pant assembly 100 according to another embodiment. The assembly 100 is similar to the assembly 10 described above, except that instead of having pants with interchangeable pocket panels, the assembly 100 includes a pair of pants 20 and a collection of interchangeable pockets 130, 132, 134, 136.

Referring to FIG. 8A, pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 each have a unique color and/or decorative design, which is indicated by the different shading shown on the pockets. Variations in the overall shape of the pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 are also possible. For purposes of example only, the assembly 100 is shown to have four types of pockets, including two of each pocket 130, 132, 134, 136, such that a pair of matched or mixed pockets may be attached to the pants. However, various numbers and combinations of pockets may be provided. Still referring to FIG. 8, the pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 have a front panel 140, 142, 144, 146 and rear panel 141, 143, 145, 147 defining a pocket opening 131 for holding various items.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, pants 120 include rear pocket regions 122 having a first fastening arrangement 150 provided at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket regions 122. Each of the pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 includes a second fastening arrangement 160 corresponding to the first fastening arrangement 150, and disposed at portions of the outer periphery of the pocket 130, 132, 134, 136. Therefore, the pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 can each be attached to the rear pocket regions 122 by fastening the fastening arrangements 150 and 160 to each other. When the pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 are attached to the pants 120, an additional pocket opening 72 can be formed between the rear panels 130, 132, 134, 136 and the pocket region 122 of the pants 120 (FIG. 7), thereby providing two possible openings for storing items. The opening 131 is particularly secure, as it is closed by a permanent connection between the front panels and the rear panels.

The pockets 130, 132, 134, 136 can be easily removed from the rear pocket regions 122 by unfastening the fastening arrangements 50 and 60 from each other. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the fastening arrangements 150 and 160 are shown to include, respectively, hook-type fasteners and corresponding loop-type fasteners, which form a hook-and-loop (i.e., Velcro®) fastening system. Alternatively, fastening members including snap members, buttons and holes or zipper elements may also be used, in similar fashion to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6.

Although the above embodiments show interchangeable pocket panels/pockets in the rear pocket regions of pants, it should be understood that similar pocket panels and pockets can be arranged at the side or front portions of pants, as shown in FIGS. 10A-10D, or at various pocket regions of other garments, such as a shirt 220, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

The inventive concept having now been described in various embodiments, it should be understood that it may be embodied in other specific forms or variations without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Accordingly, the embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A clothing assembly comprising: a clothing garment including a first fastening arrangement disposed on at least one pocket region of said garment; a pocket panel set comprising interchangeable pocket panels, wherein each of said pocket panels includes a second fastening element arranged to cooperate with said first fastening arrangement to removably attach said pocket panels to said clothing garment so as to form a pocket on said garment, and wherein at least two of said pocket panels differ in color and/or decorative design.
 2. The clothing assembly of claim 1, wherein said first fastening arrangement comprises a first member of a hook-and-loop fastener and said second fastening arrangement includes a second member of said hook-and-loop fastener.
 3. The clothing assembly of claim 1, wherein said first fastening arrangement comprises first snap fasteners and said second fastening arrangement includes second snap fasteners corresponding to said first snap fasteners.
 4. The clothing assembly of claim 1, wherein said first fastening arrangement comprises buttons and said second fastening arrangement includes holes corresponding to said buttons.
 5. The clothing assembly of claim 1, wherein said clothing garment comprises a pair of pants.
 6. The clothing assembly of claim 1, wherein said clothing garment comprises a shirt.
 7. A clothing assembly comprising: a clothing garment including a first fastening arrangement disposed on at least one pocket region of said garment; a pocket set comprising interchangeable pockets, wherein each of said pockets includes a second fastening element arranged to cooperate with said first fastening arrangement to removably attach said pockets to said clothing garment, and wherein at two of said pockets differ in color and/or decorative design.
 8. The clothing assembly of claim 7, wherein said first fastening arrangement comprises a first member of a hook-and-loop fastener and said second fastening arrangement includes a second member of said hook-and-loop fastener.
 9. The clothing assembly of claim 7, wherein said first fastening arrangement comprises first snap fasteners and said second fastening arrangement includes second snap fasteners corresponding to said first snap fasteners.
 10. The clothing assembly of claim 7, wherein said first fastening arrangement comprises buttons and said second fastening arrangement includes holes corresponding to said buttons.
 11. The clothing assembly of claim 7, wherein said clothing garment comprises a pair of pants.
 12. The clothing assembly of claim 7, wherein said clothing garment comprises a shirt.
 13. The clothing assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said pockets forms two openings for retaining items therein when attached to said garment. 